DescriptionPediatric critical care refers to the medical care provided to infants, children and adolescents who are critically ill or have experienced life-threatening injuries. Care is typically offered in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in a hospital by a team of specialists, including pediatricians, physician assistants, nurses and therapists. Medical doctors specializing in pediatric critical care, also known as pediatric intensivists, can use diagnostic imaging, blood and tissue tests, and other tools to diagnose pediatric patients. Pediatric critical-care specialists can also administer treatment – which can include the use of a ventilator on intravenous fluids – and closely monitor the child’s condition or recommend surgery. Some pediatric critical-care specialists focus on particular disorders, such as asthma or head injuries, and PICUs typically feature a high staff-to-patient ratio.

Dr. quasney was educated at the following institutions:

Medical School Attended:university of illinois at chicago college of dentistry

Year of Graduation:
1988

Dr. quasney received medical licensing as follows:

Medical License:
Recieved in 2012

State Medical License:
Issued in the state of Michigan

Dr. quasney accepts insurance from these companies:

Not available

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See what state and federal disciplinary actions (if any) have been reported against this doctor in the past five years.>

Disciplinary Actions: Not Available

Disciplinary actions are actions taken to punish or restrict physicians who have demonstrated professional misconduct. They are intended to correct the doctor's misconduct. Physicians with disciplinary actions may continue to practice, depending on the board's decision. Physicians who have had a disciplinary action in one state will often move to another state where he/she may have a clean record in that new state. Lifescript's Doctor Finder compiles disciplinary action information from all 50 states, you'll know if a physician has a disciplinary action in more than one state.

Pediatric critical care is required when a child – newborn to teen -- is in an unstable critical condition caused by severe illness or injury. The child’s unstable critical condition could be a coma, unconsciousness, severe bleeding or other life-threatening condition.

The most common causes of pediatric critical care include severe asthma, diabetic ketoacidosis, meningitis, pneumonia, a near drowning, head trauma or other serious injuries. In the event of a medical emergency, call 911; the child will be taken to the emergency room of a hospital where the child’s care will begin. A child may receive additional pediatric critical care if he or she is transferred from the emergency department to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

Who will care for my child in the pediatric critical care unit?

Monitoring and care is provided around the clock by a team of pediatric critical care specialists and pediatric intensive care nurses. A pediatric critical care specialist, or pediatric intensivist, is the doctor who cares for your child in the pediatric critical care unit (PICU) of the hospital.

Pediatric critical care specialists diagnose, monitor, medicate and treat children with severe organ disease or injury, such as the heart and lungs, as well as brain trauma. They monitor children on respirators, and also handle the placement of special catheters in the blood vessels and heart. Postoperative surgery and organ transplant patients are also cared for by pediatric critical care specialists in the PICU.

Unlike an adult ICU unit, most PICU units are decorated in colorful hues and child-like themes to provide a nurturing, cheerful environment for children.

What qualifications does a pediatric critical care specialist have?

Pediatric critical care physicians earn their four-year medical degree, followed by three years of pediatric specialty residency training. These physicians also complete at least three years of fellowship in training in pediatric critical care. To become board certified, they must pass a board exam by the American Board of Pediatrics.

Pediatric critical care specialists learn a variety of techniques to provide pediatric care in a medical emergency, as well as during surgery or postsurgery. Some of the techniques learned include airway management (bronchoscopy), cardiac life support, intubations, arterial line placement, central line placement, balloon floatation catheters, and ultrasound.

Pediatric critical care physicians must be able to make accurate medical decisions in high-pressure, life-threatening situations. They are also trained to work specifically with young patients who can’t always communicate effectively about their symptoms or pain.